My brother-in-law, Joey, did this meme a few weeks back, and I’ve been meaning to copy it for a while. I like memes, and surveys, and questionnaires. I don’t think I’ve ever said no to a survey. If you don’t feel like learning the most mundane details of my life, please skip this post. As for the photo above, that’s just Roux, thinking about it.

A…If you were an ANIMAL, what would you be?
I think I’d be a kitty cat. I like to lay around and sleep all day, I like to snuggle sometimes, and I like things my way.

B…BOOKS: What’s on your reading list?
I just finished re-reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, and now I’m reading The Art of Eating by MFK Fisher. I pick this book up every so often from the library and read it in parts. After this, I might re-read some of my other food books…The Tummy Trilogy by Calvin Trillin, or one of Jeffrey Steingarten’s books, or one of Diana Abu-Jaber’s books, or one of Tony Bourdain’s…or maybe it’s time for Jean Auel’s Earth’s Children series again. Justin and I are also slowly reading Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell together.

C…COMPULSIVE about anything?
Keeping papers nice and neat and unfolded (I cried in kindergarten when one of my papers got crumpled in my backpack), daily chocolate doses.

D…DREAMS: Do you dream in color? Do you remember your dreams?
Oh, vivid color. Sounds, smells…if I could draw or paint well, I could recreate dream locations from ten years ago. I’ve always had a lot of nightmares, so dreaming isn’t necessarily a fun thing for me, but it’s definitely creative. In one dream, I was crying face down on the ground, and I remember the taste of dirt on my lips. Crazy stuff.

E…EATING: What’s your usual snack?
I guess I change it up a lot…this week I’ve been snacking on cold, cold cantaloupe, frosted shredded wheat with soymilk, miniature Reese’s peanut butter cups, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, microwave popcorn, and toast with butter and jelly.

F…A few of your FAVORITE things…
Chocolate, kisses from my love, kitty cats, pretty paper, mail, rain, libraries, the new colorful ten and twenty dollar bills, yummy lotions, bubble baths, pasta, our new dishwasher.

G…GIGGLES! Who (or what) makes you laugh? Do you have a good sense of humor?
I think I have a good sense of humor…let’s see. Justin always makes me laugh. So do America’s Funniest Home Videos. And MFK Fisher and Sarah Vowell and Calvin Trillin. And Homestar Runner and Strongbad.

H…major HOT button:
When people are rude.

I…I am…
hungry. (What else is new?)

J…there wasn’t a J on Joey’s meme, so I’ll make one up. JOB: What’s your dream job?
Getting paid to blog, read blogs, and fill out silly surveys.

K…Also KNOWN as: Aliases? Screen names? Nicknames?
I usually sign things as Crystal, Crys to family and close friends, poco-cocoa to others, or Cryskie for bills and such. And Justin calls me bebe.

L…I LOVE:
Every fiber of Justin’s being.

M…How do you feel about MEETING people? Do it all the time, or rarely? Parties or one-on-one?
I like meeting new people, though I think I get nervous about it. I always think I’ve made a bad impression, or that I’ve jumbled up my words, or forgotten someone’s name. I think I prefer one-on-one to standing among a big group of people at a party.

N…What’s the story of your NAME? Were you named after anyone?
All I know is that my dad picked my name. (Where did it come from, Dad?) I’ve always been in school with at least two other Crystals. And when I say my name, people always want to spell it Krystal or Khrystal or Christal or whatever…but I always say that mine’s spelled correctly, just like the gem. 🙂

O…OBSERVANT…What’s around you right now? What do you see?
Roux’s laying next to the keyboard. There’s one email in my inbox. My purse is on the ground by the door where I plopped it after work. There’s a volunteer schedule pinned onto the message board, and a broom handle sticking out of a trashcan in the alley.

P…Who are the special PEOPLE in your life?
Of course my love, my family and friends, and this odd little blogworld community that I somehow have been lucky enough to become a part of.

Q…Any little QUIRKS about yourself?
I like to sit with my legs folded up under me, even in restaurants. I like to be barefoot. I can’t sleep without the little pillow my grandma embroidered for me.

R…What do you like to do for RECREATION?
Read, craft, take evening strolls, cook, and write.

S…Do you SING in the shower? In the car? For your friends?
I sing in the car sometimes, or in the house if there’s music on. Occasionally in the shower. Not so much for friends (which is probably for the best).

T…What’s at the top of your TO-DO list?
Lunch. Then laundry.

U…Any UNUSUAL experiences?
I went to Space Camp when I was little.

V…VEGAS, Vienna, Venice…How far have you traveled? What’s your favorite city?
I haven’t traveled much. I’ve been to Mexico to visit great-grandparents. I’ve been to Florida and California and Vegas and Seattle and Colorado. I grew up in New Mexico. I love Taos and Santa Fe, but my favorite city is Austin.

W…WINTER, spring, summer, fall…what’s your favorite season? What makes it special?
Oh, how I love autumn (though we don’t get much of one here in Austin)! Pumpkins and the crunch of golden leaves underfoot and cinnamon and apples and hats and scarves and gloves and school supplies.

X…EXes…things you don’t do anymore (but did, once)…
Nutrition counseling, Jazzercise, host dinner parties, and go to Disneyworld every year.

Y…Any secret deep YEARNINGS?
I want to travel, to speak French, to eat at the French Laundry, and to someday accept myself for who I am.

Z…ZERO to ZENITH – Where are you in your life? Still growing? On an upward (or downward) curve? Just skating along?
I’m still in the wee stages of life…I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up. I’ve changed immensely in the past few years, hopefully for the better, and I have no idea what’s in store for me. I can’t wait to find out, though.

I’m not tagging anyone for this, though I’d love to hear your own answers, so let me know if you decide to do it!